Safety device for sidewalk-elevator-shaft doors aud the like



G. G. LAUREYNS.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SIDEWALK ELEVATOR SHAFT DOORS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION man MAR. 25. 1919.

1 ,32 1 ,2 1 9. I I Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR 6216-741; 6? bw/rerx'm BY p" k ATTORNEY e. e. LAUREYNS.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SIDEWALK ELEVATOR SHAFT DOORSAND THE LIKE.

APPLIQATION FILED MAR. 25.19I9.

1 321,2 19. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 4 50:77:12: 'laamsm q ATTOIRNEY G. G. LAUREYNS.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SIDEWALK ELEVATOR SHAFT DOORS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1919.

1 ,32 1,2 1 9. Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

3 SHEETS- -SHEET 3.

' INVE TOR flaw/wk: 6. 1409:7015

ATTORNEY unrrnn sirarns Par GUSTAVE G. LAUREYNS, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SIDEWALK-ELEVATO R-SHAFT DOORS AND THE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatl, GUSTAVE G. LAUREYNS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Sidewalk-Elevator-Shaft Doors and the like, of which the following is a'specification. l

Sidewalk elevators or hoists are well known, and they are chiefly employed for conveying freight from the level of the sidewalk to the cellar or subcellar and from the cellar or sub-cellar to the level of the sidewalk. Above the elevator or hoist, the sidewalk contains an opening of about the same size as the flooring of the elevator or hoist, and ordinarily this opening is equipped with a pair of hinged doors or a rectangular lid for closing it and which doors or lid may be moved upwardly to open position by portions of the upper end of the elevator car or hoist, when the latter is ascending, pressing against the same.

It has in many cases happened and would very frequently happen except for the presence of an extra attendant to. prevent the same, that the elevator or hoist has moved upwardly against the closed doors or lid when persons were standing thereon. dangers incident to moving the elevator or hoist upwardly against the doors or lid while persons are standing or walking thereon have been well recognized, and the usual method for avoiding the same is the employ ment of an extra attendant whose duty it is to see that the doors or lids are cleared and then signal to the attendant in the cellar to start the elevator or hoist. V

The object of my invention is primarily to provide mechanical means operated from the elevator mechanism for clearing the doors or lid or other form of cover, of any persons who may be thereon on the upward movement of the car or hoist preparatory to the doors or lid or cover being opened by the car or hoist when reaching the same, and the said means provided by me are preferably guards, which may be in the nature of gates, hinged at their outer edges adjacent to the wall of the building and initiallyextending toward each other adjacent to said wall and preferably across the inner por tions of said doors. I preferably provide in the elevator shaft mechanism to be actuated and controlled by a frame on the car or The Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 11, 1%19,

Application filed March 25, 18?.

Serial. No. 284,893.

hoist and connect this mechanism with transmission mechanism extending along the side of the wall of the building and adapted when operated in one direction, as during the ascent of the car or hoist, to open the said guards or gates in an outward direction from each other and over the top of the sidewalk doors so as to clear the same of any persons who might be standing on said doors and then to stand at opposite sides of the elevator shaft opening preparatory to the said doors being opened upwardly, said transmission mechanism when moved in an opposite direction being adapted to close said guards or gates during the descent of the car and after the sidewalk doors have been wholly or partly closed, said guards or gates finally standing in line with each other adjacent to the side wall of the building. v I

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional View, partly broken away, through a sidewalk elevator shaft and the usual hinged doors therefor, with the features of my invention shown applied in position and as viewed from front elevation, the section being taken on the dotted lines ll of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a top view of the same, thesidewalk doors for the elevator shaft being shown in closed position and the safety appliances of my invention being illustrated in their normal inoperated position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through a portion of the operative mechanism for the safety appliances of my invention, taken on the dotted line 3-3 of Fig. 4:;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through a portion of the mechanism of my invention, taken on the dotted line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through a portion of the same on a larger scale, taken on the dotted line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through a portion of the same. also on a larger scale, taken on the dotted line 66 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section through a portion of the elevator shaft, elevator or hoist and associated features, taken on the dotted line 7 -7 of Fig. 2, with, however, the elevator or hoist shown in its upper position and the mechanisms of my invention in their operated position, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through a portion of the mechanism of my invention, taken on the dotted line 88 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, 10 designates a portion of a sidewalk, 11 an elevator shaft extending below the sidewalk, 12 an elevator opening in said sidewalk at the upper end of said shaft, 13 a portion of the wall ofthe adjacent building, and 11 a sidewalk elevator or hoist of any usual or desired construction.

The opening 12 may be equipped with customary hinged doors 15 for use in closing the opening 12 and which are adapted to be opened on the upward movement of the car or hoist 14 by the engagement therewith of a frame 16 mounted on the car in a customary manner and which frame in the present instance is preferably in the shape of a channel beam, the channel being indicated at 17.

My invention resides more particularly in the provision of guards or gates 18 and transmission gearing for operating the same from the car. The guards or gates 18 are mounted by means of hinges 19 upon vertical rods 20 secured at their lower ends to the sidewalk and at their upper ends against the wall 13, and said guards or gates initially extend toward each other above the inner portions of the doors 15 and stand parallel with and adjacent to the wall 13, as shown in Fig. 2. The guards or gates 18 are preferably oblong in outline and may be formed of a tubular frame inclosing metal plates 21 which substantially fill the openings formed by the tubular frames and with said frames constitute gates or guards 18 of substantial character.

The guards or gates 18 are adapted to have simultaneous movement from their inner closed position, indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and l, to their outer position, indicated in Fig. 7, in which it will be seen that in the outer position of the guards or gates 18 said guards or gates stand substantially at right angles to the wall 13 and along the outer sides of the opening 12 in the sidewalk, and said guards or gates 18 on the closing of the doors 15 and descent of the car or hoist 14 have simultaneous movement from their open position, indicated in Fig. 7, to their closed position, shown in Fig. 2. The mechanism for imparting movement to the guarcs or gates 18 actuated from or controlled by the frame 16 or suitable part carried by the car or hoist, and said mechanism is partly in the shaft or well 11. and partly in a box 22 secured against the wall 13 and extending horizontally from the outer edge of one guard or gate 18 to the outer edge of the other guard or gate 18. The mechanism within the box 22 is preferably of the endless chain type, as shown in Fig. 3, the chain being in two sections 23, 24: connected together at adjacent ends by plate slides 25, 26 and mounted on sprocket wheels 27, 28 secured on shafts 29, 30, respectively, within the end portions of the box or casing 22. The slidable plates 25, 26 are mounted in guides 31, 32 which are within the box or casing 22, and the slide 25 is connected with one gate or guard 18 by means of a rod 33, while the slide 26 is connected by a rod 34: with the other guard or gate 18, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4:. The rods 33, 34: are respectively secured at their inner ends to the slides 25, 26 by knuckles or hinges 35, and at their outer ends said rods 33, 3 1 are pivotally mounted on vertical rods 36, 37, respectively, rigidly connected with the framing of the guards or gates 18. The plates 21 of the gates or guards are slotted, as at 38, to permit the passage therethrough and the proper movement of the rods 33, 34, and the front of the box or casing 22 is provided with slots 39 to permit the passage therethrough and the proper movement of said rods 33, 3 1. The transmission mechanism in the box or casing 22 is set in motion by power applied to the shaft 29, said shaft being rotated in one direction during the ascent of the car or hoist ant, in a reverse direction on the downward comment of said car or hoist. hen the car or hoist ascends and the shaft 29 is rotated in one direction, or clock-wise, therefrom, the chain mechanism within the box or casing 22 may be caused to travel within said box or casing and effect, through the rods 33, 3 1, the opening of the gates or guards 18, the slide 25 then being caused to carry the arm 33 toward the right,-looking at Figs. 3 and at, and the slide 26 being moved toward the left and carrying the arm 34: with it. During the opening of the guards or gates 18, the slides 25, 26 move in a direction from each other, and hence their motion is utilized to, through the arms 33, 3 1-, turn the guards or gates 18 to their open position. l/Vhen the shaft 29 is rotated counter clock-wise, the chain mechanism within the box or casing 22 has a reverse action and the plates 25, 26 are then caused to approach each other and, by drawing the rods 33,v toward each other, effect the closing of the guards or gates 18. I prefer to form the chain mechanism within the box or casing 22 in the two sections 23, 24 connected together through the plates 25, 26, rather than to have the chain in one continuous collection of links and secure the rods 33, 34; to them, because the provision of the plates 25, 26 improves the stability of the structure and provides means for very firmly receiving and positively operating the rods 33, The mechanism in the box or casing 22 is a transmission mechanism connected through the rods 33, 34: with the guards or gates 18 for simultaneously opening and closing said guards or gates.

1f lever arm will gradually move to its initial The mechanism for imparting'motion to the actuating shaft 29 for the mechanism within the box or casing 22 is illustrated more fully in Figs. 1 and 8, and this mechanism which is mainly located in the shaft or well 11 comprises a vertically disposed endless chain 40 mounted at its lower end upon a sprocket wheel 41 and at its upper end on a small sprocket wheel 42 secured upon the shaft 29. The wheel 41 is secured on a horizontal shaft 43 supported in suitable bearings from the side wall of the shaft or well 11, and upon the shaft 43 is secured one end of a lever arm 44 whose free endis preferably deflected downwardly and is confined within the channel 17 of the frame 16, said lever arm 44 having its free end, when the car or hoist 14 is in its lower position extended upon the top portion of the frame 16, as shown in Fig. 1. lVhen the car or hoist ascends it will carry the frame 16 against the free end of the lever arm 44 and. turn said arm upwardly with the result that the arm 44 will rotate the shaft 43 and sprocket wheel 41 and thereby effect that movement of the chain which will turn the shaft 29 in a clock-wise direction to actuate the chain mechanism within the box or casing 22. During the ascent of the car or hoist, the frame 16 first turns the lever arm 44, by engagement of-its top portion therewith, to effect the opening of the guards or gates 18, and thereafter the vertical side portion of the frame 16 will ride against the free end of the lever .arm 44 and serve to hold said lever arm in its upper position without further attempt to actuate the shaft 43, said lever arm thus finally reaching a stationary position, and this taking place after the guards or gates 18 have attained their open position. During the descent of the car, the frame 16 will ride along the free end of the lever arm 44 and at the proper time, or after the vertical side of the frame 16 has retired from the free end of the lever arm 44, said position, shown inFig. 1, and while doing so the motion of the chain 40 will be reversed and said chain will turn the shaft 29 counter clock-wise and effect the closing of the guards or gates 18. The reverse movementmay be imparted to the chain 40 during the descent of the car by the automatic travel. of the lever arm 44 against the frame 16, but 1 preferably supplement the'means for effecting the reverse movement of the chain 40,

and in this instance I secure upon the shaft 43 a pulley-wheel 45 to which is connected a cable, 46 carrying at its lower end a weight 47, whose action will be to keep the lever arm 44 pressed against the frame 16 carried by the car. The tendency of the weight 47 will be to turn the shaft 48 counter, clock-wise, and said weight will be drawn upwardly on the motion of the shaft 43 during the ascent of the elevator car, and during the descent closed position, shown in. 1 and. 2,

when the sidewalk doors 15 are in closed position. When the car or hoist 14 ascends, one portion of its frame 16 will, by turning the lever arm 44 upwardly, effect through said arm and the intermediate mechanism the opening of the guards or gates 18 before the frame 16 pushes the elevator shaft doors 15 to open position so as to clear therefrom any persons who may be standing or walking on the doors 15. When the car or hoist 14 descends it will first permit the doors 15 to move to closed position and then control the motion of the lever arm 44 so that therethrough and the intermediate mechanism the guards or gatesr18 may be positively moved to. their closed position. The frame 16 controls the position of the arm 44, and this control is supplemented by the weight 47 which maintains thefree end of the arm 44 against the frame 16.

Some elevator shafts have only one door the car. My invention is applicable to either of these conditions as well as to doors 15 arranged in pairs. I therefore consider my invention as including elevator shaft doors, whether hinged in pairs or singly or in the nature of a lid, all being doors for closing the upper end of an elevator shaft.

I have presented the preferred embodiment of my invention, but this may be taken as illustrative of the invention rather than a limitation thereof, since it is obvious that the detailedconstruction and outline of the guards or gates 18 may be modified in many ways in accordance with thesituation in which they may be employed and the wish of the manufacturer, and also since it is ap: parent that the transmission mechanism ex: tending from the shaft or well and the transmission mechanism more directly co n nected withthe guards or gate 18 may be modified in many ways in accordance with existing knowledge of gearing and other means for transmitting motion from one part to another. In the present instance the transmission mechanism extending from the shaft or well is actuated in part and controlled in part by the frame on the car or hoist, said frame moving the lever arm 44; upwardly during the early portion of the ascent of the car or hoist and then maintaining said lever arm stationary during the remaining portion of the ascent of the car or hoist and also during the early part of the descent of the car or hoist, said frame 16 "finally permitting the extension of the arm 44 over the upper portion of said frame, so to effect the reversal of the motion of the shaft 43 and the consequent closing of the guards or gates 18 after the doors 15 have been wholly or substantially closed.

It is to be understood therefore that the special construction of the specific features embraced in my invention may be modified in many ways without departure from the nature or spirit of my invention. I desire to claim my invention broadly.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In combination, an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said well adapted on its ascent to remove the said cover from over said opening, and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising a pivotally mounted horizontal guard adapted to be swung over and across the cover and vertically movable motion transmitting means extending upwardly from said well and operable by a part of the hoist and connected with said guard for operating the same.

2. In combination, an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said well having an upwardly extending frame adapted on the ascent of the hoist to remove said cover .from over said opening, and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising a pivotally mounted horizontal guardadapted to be swung over and across the cover, and actuating means connected with said guard and operable from said frame for moving said guard to open position.

3. In combination, an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a pair of hinged doors for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said well having an upwardly extending frame adapted on the ascent of the hoist to open said doors, and safety means for clearing said doors preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising a pair of pivotally mounted horizontal guards adapted to be swung over and across said doors and actuating means connected with said guards and operable from said frame for moving said guards to open position.

4. In combination, an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a' pair of hinged doors for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said Well having an upwardly extending frame adapted on the ascent of the hoist to open said doors, and safety means for clearing said doors preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising a pair of pivotally mounted horizontal guards adapted to be swung over and across said doors, actuating means connected with said guards and operable from said frame for moving said guards to open position and maintaining them in such position while said doors are open, and means connected with said actuating means for reversing the same to close said guards when the hoist descends and said doors close.

5. In combination, an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a pair of hinged doors for said opening, an elevator' or hoist in said well having an upwardly extending frame, and safety means for clearing said doors preparatory to the opening of the same on the ascent of said hoist, said means comprising a pair of pivotally mounted guards adapted to be swung over and across said doors and actuating means connected with said guards and operable from said frame for moving said guards to open position.

6. In combination, an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a pair of hinged doors for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said well having an upwardly extending frame, and safety means for clearing said doors preparatory to the opening of the same on the ascent of said hoist, said means comprising a pair of pivotally mounted guards adapted to be swung over and across said doors, actuating means connected with said guards and operable from said frame for moving said guards to open position and maintaining them in such posi tion while said doors are open, and means connected with said actuating means for reversing the same to close said guards when the hoist descends and said doors close.

7 In combination, an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening an elevator or hoist in said well adapted on its ascent to remove said cover from over said opening, and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising hinged guards to be swung over said means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising hinged guards to be swung over said cover, transmission mechanism connected with and extending from one guard to the other for simultaneously opening and closing the guards, and actuating mechanism operable from the hoist and geared to said transmission mechanism for imparting motion to the same, said transmissionmechanism comprising-an endless chain mounted on sprocket wheels and rods pivoted thereto and to said guards. V

9. In combination, an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said well adapted on its ascent to remove said cover from over said opening, and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising hinged guards to be swung over said-cover, transmission mechanism connected with and extending from one guard to the other for simultaneously opening and closing the guards, and actuating mechanism operable from the hoist and geared to said transmission mechanism for imparting motion to the same, said transmission mechanism comprising an endless transverse chain mounted on sprocket wheels, plates interposed therein, supporting guides for said plates and rods pivoted to said plates and to said guards.

10. In combination, an elevater well having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator or'hoist' in said well adapted on its ascent to remove said. cover from over said opening, and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising hinged guards to be swung over said cover, transmission mechanism connected with and extending from one guard to the other for simultaneously opening and closing the guards, and actuating mechanism operable from the hoist and geared to said transmission mechanism for imparting motion to the same, said actuating mechanism comprising an endless chain mounted on sprocket wheels, a lever arm connected with one of said wheels and a frame carried by the hoist and engaging the free end of said lever arm and controlling the movement of the same and its connected chain.

11.- In combination, an elevatorwell having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said well adapted on its ascent to remove said cover from over said opening, and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising hinged guards to be swung over said cover, transmission mechanism connected with and extending from one guard to the other for simultaneously opening and closing the guards, and actuating mechanism operable from the hoist and geared to said transmission mechanism for imparting motion to the same,said actuating mechanism comprising a lever arm to impart motion to said mechanism, and a frame carried by the hoist and engaging the free end of said lever arm and serving to operate and control the movement of the same.

12. In combination, an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said well adapted on its ascent to remove said cover from over said opening, and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising hinged guards to be swung over said cover, transmission mechanism connected wlth and extending from one guard to the other for simultaneously opening and closing the guards, and actuating mechanism' operable from below said 'cover'and eared to said transmission mechanism for imparting motion to the same.

13. In combination, an elevator well lr ing an opening at its upper end, a cover 10-,

said openlng, an elevator or hoist in said well adapted on its ascent to remove said cover from over said opening, and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means com-- prising hinged guards to be swung over said cover, transmission mechanism connected with and extending from one guard to the other for simultaneously opening and closing the guards, and actuating mechanism operable from below said cover and geared to said transmission mechanism for imparting motion to the same,'said transmission mechanism comprising an endless chain mounted on sprocket wheels and rods pivoted thereto and to said guards.

14. In combination, an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said Well adapted 011 its ascent to remove said cover from over said opening, and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising hinged guards to be swung over said cover, transmission mechanism connected with and extending from one guard to the other for simultaneously opening and closing the guards, and actuating mechanism operable from below said cover and geared to said transmission mechanism for imparting motion to the same, said transmission mechanism.comprising an endless transverse chain mounted on sprocket wheels, plates interposed therein, supporting guides for said plates and rods pivoted to said plates and to said guards.

15. In combination an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a cover forwell having an upwardly extending frame adapted on its ascent to remove the said cover from over said opening and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, the said means comprising a pivotally mounted horizontal guard adapted to be swung over and across the cover, and a weight for returning the safety means.

16. In combination an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a pair of hinged doors for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said well havin an upwardly extending frame and a safety means for clearing said doors preparatory to the opening of the same on the ascent of said hoist, said means comprising a pair of pivotal-ly mounted guards adapted to be swung over and across said doors, actuating means connected with said guards and operable from said frame for moving said guards to open position and a weight for returning said guards.

17. In con'iloination an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said well adapted on its ascent to remove said cover from over said opening and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising a hinged guard to he swung over said cover, actuating mechanism operable from the hoist and connected to said guard for imparting motion to the same, said actuating mechanism comprising a lever arm to impart motion to said mechanism, a weight for returning said lever arm and a frame carried by the hoist and engaging the free end of said lever arm, and serving to move it so as to swing the guard for clearing the cover.

18. In combination, an elevator well having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator or hoist in said well adapted on its ascent to remove said cover from over said opening, and safety means for clearing said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, said means comprising hinged guards to be swung over said cover, transmission mechanism connected with and extending from one guard to the other for simultaneously opening and closing the guards, and actuating mechanism operablefrom the hoist and geared to saidtransmission mechanism for imparting motion to the same, said actuating mechanism comprising an endless chain mounted on sprocket Wheels, a lever arm connected with one of said wheels, a weight for returning said lever arm and guards, and an arched T frame carried by the hoist and engaging the free end of said lever arm and controlling the movement of the same and its connected chain.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this Qdth day of March, A. D. 1919.

GUSTAVE G. LAUREYNS.

' Vitnesses ARTHUR MARION, CHAS. C. GILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

